Iraq Report, 22 Jan/07

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.

TOP TOPICS

• Saturday was one of the deadliest days in Iraq of the war after an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed, apparently shot down, northeast of Baghdad, an attack on a meeting in Karbala, and the use of improvised explosive devices.

• Moqtada al Sadr's faction ended a two month boycott of the Iraqi congress Sunday, perhaps a move related to the changing attitude of the Maliki government towards the Shiite militias, particularly al Sadr's Mahdi Army.

Other Topics Today Include: Kurds come to Baghdad; Yon back to Baghdad; mistakes were made; surge logistics; last chance for Iraq(?); restarting Iraq's factories; Russians may land oil contract; Kirkuk makes first sales since September; al Sadr aide arrested; Syria concerned about violence; Democrats plan non-binding protest.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Thousands of Kurds will join in the battle for Baghdad, adding both skilled troops and a third element to the sectarian struggle that has caused so much trouble in Baghdad.

• Michael Yon is back in Iraq and continues to bring us up-to-date on what really happens in-country.

• Bryan Preston talks about the mistakes the U.S. has made in Iraq since the invasion, told to him by troops on the ground.

• Greyhawk explains the logistics of the surge.

• Mohammed Fahdil asks if the new Iraq strategy is a last chance, or a new beginning for Iraq.

• For months Iraqi and US officials have been trying to shut down a broadcast station sending inciteful propoganda to Iraqi insurgents - the station is run by the government of Egypt.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Analysis: Restarting Iraq's Factories

• Iraq has banned the export of all palm shoots through 2008.

• The Russian centralized oil firm, Lukoil, may receive a large contract to develop one of Iraq's many oil fields.

• Iraqi, American and international officials and businessmen met in Dubai conference titled "exchange of investments between Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

• An Oil Ministry source said on Monday that Iraq has sold three million barrels of Kirkuk crude to three European companies in the first sale of its kind of crude oil since September last year.

IRAQI POLITICS

• An aide to Moqtada al-Sadr was arrested Friday, indicating the surge may involve a significant change in policy regarding the Shiite politician and his followers. Apparently U.S. intelligence convinced Prime Minister Maliki that the Shiite militias have been infiltrated by death squads, and he has changed the rules of engagement accordingly.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Syria is getting nervous about the violence on its borders in Iraq and Lebanon.

• Democratic lawmakers plan to vote on a non-binding resolution opposing President Bush's pending troop surge.

ETCETERA

• Iraqis send some messages to the U.S.A. via Hot Air. (Hat tip: Instapundit.

• Bill Roggio, who may qualify for Iraqi citizenship soon, is back in Iraq.

• One of the current Iraq Report compilers, Andrew Olmsted, is heading to Iraq himself. That means we could use a volunteer willing to take on the mission of compiling the Report with Joel Gaines beginning with the February 19 report. Please send applications to MondayIraqReport (at) windsofchange (dot) net.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

• Many American troops have taken it upon themselves to reconstruct schools and gather learning tools for the children of Iraq. Their efforts have been met with immense gratitude from the local Iraqis and their children. You can help too! Visit Operation Iraqi Children and get involved.

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